I am undertaking an 'Electrical Installation Condition Report' of an industrial distribution cabinet.

The cabinet is fed direct from an 11KV/415v substation on site. And the cabinet feeds 40 individual 3 phase machines each on individual 3 phase breakers/radial circuits.

The cabinet itself is manufactured in Switzerland by the same company that manufactures all the machinery on site; it's a specially made distribution cabinet

The cabinet is metal and totally enclosed, approx 6ft by 2ft. It has a full size hinged door on the front which requires a cabinet key to open it, (I believe the key is called a Double Bit No.5 Key). Once opened all the breakers are exposed and so are all the busbars. The door can be opened whilst everything is live.

Should all the live busbars be covered/barrier/guarded or is this acceptable as using the double bit No.5 key constitutes "access only by a competent person"?

I'm assuming there is some sort of incoming isolation on this panel for maintenance purposes ??

I think it's source end Stu - hence the perspex to keep fingers off the hurty bits comment

we could go nuts and have a trapped key at the source end isolator that can only be removed when off, that is then free to open the cabinet door - and with the key out, you can't re-energise the isolator - OTT for minimum compliance but I've designed a few like that over the years

I guess it's a good point though Stu - it has to be said that most designers have at least one on on the risk transfer process that results in OTT design solutions because we often have no idea of the "quality" of the installers or maintainers

I think all may be skipping past or jumping over 416.2.1 (1) with the screwdriver to 416.2.4 (1). For example quarry operative cheating the electrical mechanical interlock resetting overloads (and they do) would be a stackable offence. Insurance inspections in industrial control panels, switch panels even when switched off, if shrouds or a cover were not fitted on the main incomer live connections, an immediate urgent notice would be issued. The Competent Person must be electrical, a summery of that person is below: but needs supplemented by e level in most cases. F to h certainly for HV.

(a) Appointed Person
A person, normally not from electrical staff, who is authorised by the Senior Electrical Authority to perform specified duties on Electrical Equipment, e.g. starting and stopping electric motors and synchronising of generators.

(b) Competent Person
A person who has sufficient technical knowledge or experience to perform Mechanical Work
or Non-electric Work safely.

(d) Competent Electrical Person (CEP)
A person, authorised by the Senior Electrical Authority to carry out specified Low Voltage Operations on Electrical Power Systems and Work on Electrical Equipment

(e) Authorised Electrical Person (AEP)
A Competent Electrical Person, authorised by the Senior Electrical Authority to supervise or to carry out specified Operations on High Voltage and Low Voltage Electrical Power Systems and Work or Testing on Electrical Equipment.
The authorisation may include the authority to receive a Sanction For Test, issue and cancel Limitation Of Access and to perform the necessary safety procedures associated with such
Work or Testing.

(f) Senior Authorised Electrical Person (SAEP)
An Authorised Electrical Person, with minimum Job Group 6, authorised by the Senior Electrical Authority to initiate Work or Testing on High Voltage Electrical Equipment. The authorisation includes the authority to issue and cancel all Electrical Safety Documents
and to perform the necessary safety procedures associated with the issue and cancellation such documents.

(g) Responsible Person Electrical (RPE)
An Authorised Electrical Person or a Senior Authorised Electrical Person, appointed by the Holder/Operating Department, who is responsible for electrical safety and the control of
Work and Testing within a specified geographical area or facility.

(h) Senior Electrical Authority (SEA)
The Head of Electrical Engineering, who has an electrical engineering degree and is responsible for developing BSP's
Electrical Safety Rules and overseeing the assessment of electrical competency and training and experience of persons Operating, Working and Testing on Electrical Equipment.

Well, for what it's worth, you probably need to consider several aspects

1 - This cabinet (or cabinets) has a supply in and several supplies out which are controlled by circuit protective devices. So incoming supply (if not covered by say a test of a main switchboard outgoing supply tests) and certainly outgoing circuits to machinery need testing in acordance with BS 7671. This should include basisc refernces to UP ratings, access via a key or tool etc as well as the usual electrical inspection and tests

2 - You have a panel that almost certainly falls under the low voltage directive, may be switchgear and covered by BS EN 62208, BS EN 60947, BS EN 60439 and is probably also machinery under the machinery directive. PUWER would apply (as it almost always does) and here you would look at the process/procedure for entering this cabinet and the issue of bare busbars etc. CE marking would also be relevant

3 - There is an even broader duty also under EAWR derived from HASAWA etc - so a report on condition in more general terms will be required - and that should include the employers risk assessments etc

So it would appear that what you need is an EICR included as part of a broader report on the distribution cubicles which also needs client input in terms of existing policies and procedures and dialogue as to whether they need modification. Whether you just provide the EICR as input into a broader study by the client is, I guess, a matter of your appointment and the duties you have quoted for.

In any event, i would simply comment on the bare busbars without saying if it's compliant with a standard or not as part of your normal duty of care as an ordinary competent person. There is no problem raising the issue - you don't have to recommend a solution

Originally posted by: Jason555The cabinet is metal and totally enclosed, approx 6ft by 2ft. It has a full size hinged door on the front which requires a cabinet key to open it, (I believe the key is called a Double Bit No.5 Key). Once opened all the breakers are exposed and so are all the busbars. The door can be opened whilst everything is live.
Should all the live busbars be covered/barrier/guarded or is this acceptable as using the double bit No.5 key constitutes "access only by a competent person"?

I wouldn't be concerned, since the cover can only be opened with the use of a tool. You could stick a label on "Isolate elsewhere etc." but even this is not required for access by a supposedly competent person.